Raising Leaders

Fostering Leadership in our EMS STUDENTS

at Landmark

BY LAURA POLVINEN AND TARA JOLY-LOWDERMILK

RAISING LEADERS

Merriam-Webster cites a leader as a person who has commanding authority or influence. When each of us think of leaders, we envision people in our lives who stand up for others, guide a group, further a cause, and lead with charisma, power, and passion. But how do we raise good leaders? As adults, we can foster leadership skills in our students and children, both at school and in the home-community environment. After all, today’s student leaders are the adult leaders of tomorrow.

Leadership Through Self Advocacy

At Landmark’s Elementary•Middle School (EMS), an overarching goal of our programming is to help students become better self advocates. Self advocacy is at the crux of leadership. When students are able to speak up for their needs, they can help themselves and then others. We teach self advocacy within each class, in community group meetings, and by helping students reflect on their learning styles, challenges, and successes.

In order to build leadership skills at school, we also draw on students’ interests. Some students are tour guides to prospective students and families, others share their stories during student panels. EMS students read to younger classes, host dress-down days to raise money for charities of interest, and take part in peer interviews during our daily morning meeting. In this way, their voices are amplified and they can lead in small and big ways on our campus. Students may advocate to start a specific after-school group, add hooded sweatshirts to the dress code, or share with others about a trip they took or a new skill they learned. As our students grow in their leadership skills, they become more confident in who they are and their ability to shape the world around them. Engaging children in chores fosters independence and leadership.

Fostering Leadership at Home

At home, adults can help their students continue to explore leadership opportunities. Encourage students to participate at home in chores, meal planning, organizing weekend events, play dates, and care of pets. Parents and guardians should be sure to reflect back on the successes and give constructive feedback that is embedded in positives that you can highlight. When possible, they should give students the chance to make choices; it’s not often that children have an opportunity to be “in charge,” so give them some agency in what they wear, what activities they participate in, what to have for dinner, or what activity to share as a family. When students speak, listen; hold back on questions, reflect back to them what you hear, and see what they want to “do next” with the information they are sharing. When we truly listen, we give students the opportunity to feel heard, validated, and solve their own problems.

While supporting leadership at home, we know that students are already leaders in their communities in all sorts of ways. They are voted MVP of their sports teams, win tournaments, hold hot chocolate stands to raise money for Ukraine, take part in Habitat for Humanity projects, read to dogs in a shelter, and earn badges for scouts—to name a few. Our students find ways to nurture their communities by channeling their interests and showing leadership in big and small ways outside of the classroom. To the leaders of tomorrow, we look forward to seeing what you’ll do next!